Railway vehicle truck



June 24, 1958 T. B. DILWORTH l 2,840,009-

RAILWAY VEHICLE TRUCK Filed Nov. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORATTORNEY A June 24, 1958 Filed Nov. 4, 1954 T. B. DlLwoRTH RAILWAYVEHICLE TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent Qiice2,840,009 Patented June 24, 1958 2,840,009 RAILWAY VEHICLE` TRUCK ThomasB. Dilworth, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of y Delaware Y Application November 4,1954, vSerial No.. 466,829

' 4 claims. (c1.- 10s`19s) Y ranging the various parts thereof so thatthey may beV expeditiously disassembled and assembled.

It is a further object of this invention to improve the flexibilitybetweenthe side frame members of the truck so as to better absorb theirregularities .of railroad beds and thereby improve the Aridingqualities of the truck. i

. It is a still further object of this invention to pivotally orrotatably support the bolster to enable'a'moreequalized distribution ofthe load applied thereto throughy the bolster springs.

It is another object of this invention to provide bolster end supportingmeans which'are held in lplacebyunique retaining means serving. theadditional function'of carry' ing the `damping means which damp relativemovement ofthe bolster including .the end supporting4 means lrelative tothe rest of the truck frame.

It is another object of this invention to equalize the load between theside frame members by providing a exible plate rigidly secured betweenthe `side 'frame members .intermediate the' ends thereof acting incombination with rods for partially supporting the brake rigging,thefastenings between plateV and side Vframes* being rigid enough tomaintain tram'betweenthev side frame membersyet exible enough to permita twisting action between the side frames to thereby improve the ridingqualities'of the truck.

For a fuller understanding of these and other objects of thisinventionreference may be had to the accompanying detailed description anddrawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the truck with parts brokenaway and in section to illustrate various of the unique featuresthereof;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation-ofthe truck and serves as a goodillustration of the'unique means which are used to limit lateralmovement-of the bolsterand supporting means and how'"this means i'sAretained'by the truck side frames; i*

Fig. 3 isan end view inelevation taken at the center of the truck on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1 with'portions-broken away and in section toparticularly illustrate the unique damping means;V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and servesprimarily to illustratehow the bolster ends are partially cylindricalinshape and received in" cylindrical pockets in'the bolster end supportingmeans so that the bolster may rotate Vwith respect thereto;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of certain elements of thetruck illustrating their conguration and h`ow they areassembled'together. i

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,V the truck is made up of twotransversely spaced longitudinally extending side frameY membersindicatedy by the numeral 2; Each of these side frame members includes alower tension member 4 having opposite longitudinallyextendinghorizontal pedestalends 6 formed on either end thereof.Y Thetension member 4 includes a bottom plate 8 and a pair of side plates 10which together form a` pair of upwardly facing longitudinally spacedspring pockets or seats 1 2. ,I nterposed between the upper portions of`the oppositely disposed pedestal ends 6 and in alignment therewith is alongitudinally extending compression member 14 which in combination withthe lower tension member V4 andthe pedestal ends 6 forms a bolsterassembly openingor win'dow 16. Partially aiding in the maintenance oftrambetween thetwo side frame memb ers 2 are a pair of wheel and axlesets each including an axle 18 and a set of yoppositely disposed wheelsZ0. The lends of each axle 18 ar e journaled for Vrotation in the usualjournal box assembliesindicated by numerals 22. Eachl of these journalbox assemblies 22 is received betweenthe upper and lower portions of anassociated pedestal end 6 and maintained therein by means of a securingbar 24. As already mentioned, with this ar rangement the` Wheel and axlevsetsaid in maintaining. tram between the side frame members' 2. Thepedestal ends extend horizontally instead' of vertically as in the usualca'se'so that Aitjis unnecessary to lift the truck side frames in orderto remove a wheel and' axle assembly. This feature expedites thechanging out of a wheel and axle assembly since yit is .only necessarytoV support Athe particular end of the truck by suitable means andremove the 'securing bars 24.

Alsoaiding inthe maintenance of tram between the two side frameassemblies 2 is a ilexible plate 26 which is rigidly secured to theundersides of the tension members 4 intermediate the ends thereof andadjacent the ends of the flexible plateor member' 26 This plateis rigidenough to maintain tram betweenthe sidel framemembers yet liexibleenough to'perrnit atwistingjor Vrotating action betweenth'e two side`fra mesf s o as to provide the with suicient llexibility whereby it moresgat factorily absorbs the irregularitiesoccurringinthe usualrailroadbed. lAlso tending to maintaintram' between the two side framemembers 2. area pair of transversely extending yro,d s. '28 locatedabove and [longitudinally spaced on either sideV of the exible.memberfor plate 26; f The rods 28 are threaded ,at the .ends thereof'andextend through bushings 30 providedin the'side frame members 2. Tosecure the side frames and the rods 28 so 'that they will notmovelaterally relative'to eachV other. nuts 32 have been provided whichare turned on the threaded ends of the rods 28. As seen in Fig. 'l therods 28 tend to reduce the Vamount of liexible action` thatwould beallowed between the two side frame, members Zif thef exible 'tie plate26 were acting alonel However, a cer-` tain amount of `iiexibility'isstill provideddue tojthe flexibleness of the rods28 and also the mannerin which they are secured in the side frames 2.' l

I t will b e observed thatthe .rods 28.not onlyiaid irifthe, lmaintenance of tram between the side frame members l2 while at thesametime providing a certainV amount'fof,

iiexibility therebetween but valso serve assupports from` frame members2 are a paiofbrake cylinder assemblies 38. l Each of the brake cylinderassemblies 38 has its operating ends operatively connected to the lowerends of a pair of the longitudinally spaced brake levers 34' soY thatupon actuation of the assemblies 38 the levers 34 willpivotin oppositedirections about the bars 28 causing engage@ 3 ment between brake shoeassemblies 36 and the wheels 20. It will thus be observed that theflexible tie plate 26 and the flexible rods 28 actually serve athree-fold purpose First, they maintain trarn between the side framemember 2;` s'econd, they allowa .certain amountof ilexspaced spring.seats 44 of the assembly 42. SecuredV to*` the upper sides-of"` theseats 44 area pair of yertical plates 46 between `which is.,sec ured a.bolster end support 48 having aniupwardly' facing concave cylindricalbearing `surface 50.'. One end of Vthe cylindrical recess formed''in thebolster endsupport 48 ies closedby ,means of a wall 52. Rotatablysupported in the concave portions of the bolster end. supports 48arefthe Lends .p54 of a`railw`ay `-vehicle truckbolster 56. It willbeobserved that each end 54 vis'pi'ovidedfwitha' lower yconvexcylindrical surface 58.whicli` 'acts las a rotatable bearing surface.enabling the bolster `5610 rotateiin the lbolster'end suppor-ts 48relative. to .thebolsterend supporting means 42. This featurerepresents'asubstantial improvement fromthe standpoint of improving theriding qualities of the truck because the bolster'56,v due to therelativelylarge area of its center bearing recessf60 islfmaintainedsubstantially parallel `'to the underside of the railway vehiclebo'dyl'a't all' times. Under such conditions;f unless the? truck frame`or conversely .theptruck` bolster. can move or rotate relative to theother, .the irregularities in `the railroad-bed, cannot lbe `absorbed asthey should `be and unequalloadstend Vto be placed on 'the springs 42.`AsA already` emphasized the present inventionlovercomes thisdisadvantage by .having the bolster rotatable relative to the -side`.frame-menibersjv This rotatable Yfeature of the truckbolsteris'believedvto be novel and torepresehta substantial improvementloverother trucks of thisi type.

The', wide ,spacing of( springs `Mlinl pocketszilZ materially increases'the' longitudinalstability of the bolster `56 and A assemblies 42 on,side frame members 2. l

A` novelmeans for retaining the bolster 56 and the bolster endsupporting means 42 .so as to limit the lateral movement `thereofwithrespect to the sideframe members 2 has been provided `and is indicatedgenerally lby a numeral 62. This .meanscomprises a at plate 64 ton whichis aixed `a large abutting or chaiing block 66. The plate 64 is aredas`at,68 and 70 at theupper nend thereof and isguided into place by meansofguidemeansl 72 secured to the compression members 1410i? the sideframe members 2L'. The lower ends of `the plates 64re' side inslots..7.4 in tliefends` oftheflexibletie plate 26;r Downward movement A.of-thefplates 6:4 intojtheslots 7,4V

and the guides..72fis-limited by the flared Vportionsr cooperating withthe guides 72. i When 'inpplace it may be seen, particularly fromFigs.r2 and'3, that the large abutting or cha'iing blocks A66 are locatedbetween sets of vertical longitudinal center-facing oppositely disposedchaling plates`76 providedon the outboard sides of the bolster endsupporting means 42 and reinforcedly attached` to the plates 46` bymeans ofgus'set plates V78 and 80. With this arrangement it will beobserved thatnthere must necessarily take place between the bolster endsupporting means 42 and the side frame members 2 friction damping meanshave been provided in the abutting or chafng blocks 66. These frictiondamping means are best shown in Fig. 1 and constitute in each abuttingblock 66 a pair of oppositely acting plungers 82 which are Vbiased apartby means of a helical coil spring 84 interposed therebetween. The endsof the plungers 82 engage the Charing plates 76 to thereby damp verticaland lateral movement of the `bolster and the bolster end supportingmeans with respect tothe side frame members 2.

In order to prevent the removal of the means 62 from the guides 72 Vandslots 74 a tab 86 has been provided on plate 64. This tab and the Vplate64 to which it is attached is anchored by means of a pair of lugs 88secured to the compression member of the side frame Y members 2. A smallstrap 85 is located over the tab 86 and is bolted to the lugs 88A'bymeans of bolt and nut assemblies 90L e From the foregoing it may beappreciated that the means 62 in combination with other elements ofthetruck is a multi-purpose item. It serves to limit lateral movement ofthe bolster and the bolster end supporting means with respect to theside frame members 2. It maintains the bolster assembly, including thebolster 56 and the bolster end supporting means 42, assembled. It actsas the means for .transmitting longitudinal movementbetween bolster andframe. It provides a quickly reached location for mounting the bolsterdamping means. The mere removal of these assemblies 62 leaves the re- Ymaining portion of the truck in condition so that it may be quicklydisassembled. It also enables the bolster damping means to be quicklyremoved and replaced.

Iclaim: 1. In a railway vehicle truck, a side Vframe member having awindow therein, a bolster end supportresiliently` supported on said sideframe inthe window thereof for lateral movement therein, a bolster endrotatably supported by said support, and abutting means on said frameand said bolster end support to limit lateral movement of said bolsterend and bolster end support relative to said side frame member.

2. In a railway vehicle truck comprising a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinally extending side frame members having aligned windowstherein, transversely extending wheel and axle sets extending between.and supporting said sideframe members, atransversely extendingilexible`member secured to each of said side frames intermediate the endsthereof, the ends of said.

flexible *member extending outboard of said side frame members andhaving slots therein, a bolster supporting piece for each of said sideframe members resiliently supported in the window thereof, atransversely extending truck bolster rotatably supported by `saidbolster supporting pieces, sets of longitudinally spaced oppositelydisposed longitudinal center-facing chating plates on each of saidbolster supporting pieces, guide `means on the 'outboard' side ofeach ofsaid side framemembers in is a certain amountof lateral clearancebetween the` walls f 52 and the back` or inboard sides of the plates 64which allows `the bolster 56 and lthe bolsterlend supporting means .42to swing' laterally until the walls `SZsabnut the back `orinboard sidesof the` plates `6 4. vThis limited 'lat,

general'vertial alignment with said slots, meanscooperating with saidchatng plates to transmit longitudinal movementbetween said bolsterandsaid side frame members comprisingga, pair lof platesremovablyretaineddn said slots and ,saidjguides' having axed theretoabutting members which are interposed between'and engageable with said,sets of charging plates, and oppositely acting spring-loaded p lungers4supported by said last-mentioned members a nd ,acting againstrsaidmsetsof chang plates to dampilmovement v,of -said bolstersupporting pieces relative to sa-idjside frame members.- v

3. A rai lway'vehicle .truck comprising a pair oftransverselyyspacedlongitudinally extending side frame members havingaligned windows therein, Atransversely extending'yvheel and axle setsextendingbetweenand supporting `said side frame members, a `transverselyextending llexiblejmembe'rsecured `to each of said side framesintermediate the ends thereof, the ends of said exible member extendingoutboard of said side frame members and having slots therein, a bolstersupporting piece for each of said side frame members resilientlysupported in the window thereof, a transversely extending truck bolsterrotatably supported by said bolster supporting pieces, sets oflongitudinally spaced oppositely disposed longitudinal center-facingchaling plates on each of said bolster supporting pieces, guide means onthe outboard side of each of said side frame members in general verticalalignment with said slots, and means cooperating with said chang platesto transmit longitudinal movement between said bolster and said sideframe members comprising a pair of plates removably retained in saidslots and said guides having affixed thereto abutting members which areinterposed between and engageable with said sets of chang plates.

4. In a railway vehicle truck including a pair of oppositely disposedlongitudinally extending side frame members each having a windowtherein, a truck bolster sup- 6 port piece for each of said side framemembers resiliently supported thereon in the window thereof for lateralswinging movement relative thereto, a truck bolster Whose opposite endsextend into said windows and are rotatably supported by said bolstersupport pieces, and means to damp movement of said support pieces insaid windows.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,312Carnahan Dec. 18, 1900 941,515 Goodspeed Nov. 30, 1909 1,020,960Bettendorf Mar. 26, 1912 1,130,665 Bullock Mar. 2, 1915 1,712,747 ClasenMay 14, 1929 1,788,874 Kadel Jan. 13, 1931 1,997,662 Suckeld Apr. 16,1935 2,133,530 Beutlich Oct. 18, 1938 2,169,960 Cottrell Aug. 15, 1939

